Fort Bragg, NC - An historic meeting occurred that changed the US military – specifically the US Army forever. For it was on this day, 12 OCT 1961 a visit was arranged that forged a lasting effect that continues until this day - Presidential validation of the Special Forces – “The Green Berets”
To understand the history though, one must look back nearly 200 years before, one state south and consider “The Swamp Fox”…
- John F. Kennedy
The speech was never delivered as the “Watchman” was assasinated on 22 NOV 1963 on his way to the “walls”.
A few weeks ago, I was whisked down to Fort Bragg for a ceremony that is rare and another that occurs several times a year. It always invigorates me when I see these events to know that there are soldiers who are ready, willing and able to defend the freedoms that many in the United States take for granted.
Most of us are too busy trying to figure out what movie we’re going to see, where we’re going to have dinner or planning that vacation. Too few are aware of the sacrifice and dedication of those who have volunteered to abide by a simple creed of “DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY” that in 1962 General Douglas MacArthur included in his speech delivered at West Point, NY at the US Military Academy.
There are also misconceptions and misperceptions that abound out there and frankly, until I was informed and educated by my core advisory / mentor group (which continues to grow mind you.) I truly had some similar ideas about how the military does things and protects our freedoms. Those ideas have been put aside as I became more knowledgeable and spent many hours with the soldiers understanding just what they go through on a day-to-day basis, while probing and tapping into my network.
Recently, I was asked to join a group ’cause it’s “less intense than Special Forces” which prompted this focus. I sensed that the person suggesting that I join didn’t really understand what the US Army Special Forces is all about. Yes, they are soldiers who will take up arms and eliminate threats. BUT and there’s a DIFFERENCE – A BIG DIFFERENCE!
They are not the “commandos” that many people think they are. Yes they have special skills that are imparted and honed, which is why they are “SPECIAL FORCES” – these may include additional language skills, medical training, psychological skills, etc. for their mission is “To Free the Oppressed” = De Oppresso Liber. NOT through force, but by working with the people and winning their acceptance to help them help themselves. The SF are “force multipliers” teams of 5 or up to 10 may be inserted in to initiate and successfully complete this “unconventional warfare” = Teaching the people how to defend themselves from oppression. Transferring the skills that the SF soldier spends weeks and weeks aquiring and learning to utilize -honing them over the years.
The SF motto, from what I have researched is drawn from a quote by St. Augustine’s Confessions which includes:
“The turbulent have to be corrected,
The faint-hearted cheered up,
The weak supported;
The Gospel’s opponents need to be refuted,
Its insidious enemies guarded against;
The unlearned need to be taught,
The indolent stirred up,
The argumentative checked;
The proud must be put in their place,
The desperate set on their feet,
Those engaged in quarrels reconciled;
The needy have to be helped,
The oppressed to be liberated,
The good to be encouraged,
The bad to be tolerated;
All must be loved,”
And this is what they do … Not Commandos, but Special Forces. Just like President John F. Kennedy’s reaction to the display of their skills on 12 OCT 1961 “They truly are Special…”
There was …
The US Army transported the President of the United States from/to the White House when he needed to go to either Andrews AFB, Camp David or maybe even the Pentagon. This is evidenced in photographs taken in August of 1962 shown below:
President John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline and son John Jr. preparing to board helicopter ARMY ONE for a vacation.
And it was the US Army that provided the foundation of military aviation in the United States… there was a commemoration of the 100 years of military aviation held at Ft Myer VA in SEP 2008 marking the Wright Flyer’s first flights on Summerall Field.
It was today, the 22nd of NOVEMBER 1963 the event that shocked the United States and the world. I recall vividly while sitting in a classroom, the “voice from above” (we never knew who was on the intercom) announced that the President had been shot in Dallas…
– John F. Kennedy
35th President of the United States
Just an FYI, the response from the mailing has been “minimal” but encouraging — perhaps they’re also accounting for the beginning of the growing red dots on the map — (see the earlier post about Clustr Maps)
It was a bit overwhelming when the pages and pages of labels came out of the printer as I prepared to alert the members of the Washington DC Special Forces Association that it was time for them to get in their Christmas Card Orders, along with informing them that I had turned the collage commemorating the President John F. Kennedy meeting of then BG Wm P. Yarborough into cards. If you remember, this collage sent by the President has been nestled away for over 40 yrs and is now part of the Special Forces Association collection.
A portion of the profits made from the sale of those cards will be donated back to the US Army Special Forces Association.
SFA notecard Personalization offer was also included. We’ ll see how full the Post Office Box is in a few days since the mailing went out today.
A History Flashback —
It was 46 years ago today that an historic event occurred on Ft. Bragg, NC — President John F. Kennedy and then BG William P. Yarborough met while the President was reviewing the US Army Special Forces. Arranged through the cooperation of General Yarborough’s West Point classmate, then MG Chester V. Clifton, Jr., who was the military aide to the President, the meeting had several signifcant outcomes. The photo to the left is an image of the autographed collage that JFK sent to General Yarborough after the meeting. The collage hung in the general’s home office for over 30 years.
A significant part of US Army military history, for it was that day, JFK recognized the importance of the Special Forces and funding was secured to continue the mission to make them a crucial part of the US Army. Now some 50 years later, the US Army Special Forces are the elite … the best of the best!
It was also the day that the Special Forces were all in their green berets a distinction that the President himself authorized as part of their official uniform, since they are really Special!
Before the collage was donated to hang in a museum, John M
ichael was allowed to scan the original to carry out his mission of “Preserving the memories, so others will remember…” From that high resolution image, to commemorate this event, John Michael has created a selection of notecards, greeting cards, photo cards — or even reprints of the collage. The story about the event and it’s significance is printed on the back of the cards. The text appears in an image to the right.
A portion of the profits from the sale of these items is donated to the Special Forces Association.
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